The Insider: September, 2011

Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan drew criticism following Monday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys for calling 11 passes and only two runs with his team leading during the tail end of the third quarter and the good chunk of the fourth quarter.

Redskins punter-holder Sav Rocca said he isn’t worried about the botched exchange between he and long-snapper Nick Sundberg on Monday night and that he expects to come through for the Redskins the next time he is called upon.

Washington Redskins strong safety LaRon Landry graded his season debut harshly, saying he left plays on the field. Meanwhile, Coach Mike Shanahan said that he was surprised with how well Landry performed in his first game since Week 9 of the 2010 season.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo says he’ll be able to deal with the pain of playing with a fractured rib, and according to ESPN Dallas has declared himself “good to go” for Monday night’s meeting with the Washington Redskins.

The final injury report of the week was released Saturday afternoon and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (ribs) was listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Redskins. Dallas also listed receiver Dez Bryant (thigh) and running back Felix Jones (shoulder) among their questionable players.

Last season receiver Anthony Armstrong had the Redskins’ visit to Dallas circled on his calendar. It marked a chance for Armstrong to go home and play against the team he not only grew up rooting for but the team he feels passed over him.

While Fred Davis has been the Redskins’ top tight end since early in training camp, Chris Cooley says he has done “anything and everything” to get his ailing left knee healthy and has made huge strides.

Tim Hightower and Roy Helu showed that are capable of being a rather dynamic duo at running back for the Redskins, which creates an additional challenge for defenses, according to Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

Redskins fans always get extra worked up for a game against the Dallas Cowboys, and the team’s players do as well. The argument has been made in recent years that the rivalry isn’t what it once was. Dallas Coach Jason Garrett disagrees.

When the Redskins signed punter Sav Rocca as a free agent just before training camp, they hoped to bring some stability to a position that has been anything but stable in recent years. What they got Sunday: Rocca’s normal contributions in the kicking game, plus a game-ending tackle.

For the fourth time since joining the Redskins in 2009, Graham Gano jogged onto the field and nailed a game-winning field goal. And like so many other times in his young career, the big kick was preceded by an uneven performance.

A week ago, the Redskins rang up four sacks – all from down linemen in their three-man defensive front, an unusual result in a scheme that is designed to free up linebackers. In Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, the Redskins managed three more sacks – all from linebackers.

Second-year wide receiver Anthony Armstrong wasn’t sure what to make of the Redskins’ pursuit of five new wideouts this offseason. But he emerged from the team’s season opener with a sense of optimism.

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett knows all about the Redskins, having grown up in Montgomery County, and he would like nothing better than to defeat the team his friends and family cheered for during his youth.

Safety knows there were a couple of big plays last week that he’d like to have back. But Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett says the 68-yard pass that set up the Giants’ first touchdown can’t be pinned solely on Doughty.

The Arizona Cardinals appeared to essentially give running back Tim Hightower away, but Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the decision wasn’t made lightly, and that he expects Hightower to have a productive career with Washington.

As the 253rd overall pick in the 2011 draft, nose tackle Chris Neild was taken ahead of only one other player. Now, as one of top performing rookies on the NFL’s opening weekend, there is only one name above his among the league’s sack leaders.

Mike Jones explained earlier this morning that the Redskins are more than comfortable relying on multiple tight end sets this year. They want all three tight ends to play a role in their passing and running games, but it will be interesting to see who emerges as the featured tight end.

With two major weapons in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis, the Washington Redskins on Sunday utilized multiple tight end sets for nearly 80 percent of their offensive plays, and Coach Mike Shanahan said you can expect to see plenty more of that this season.

As the Redskins study film Monday, it’s the bad plays they focus on, looking for ways to improve technique, execution and strategy. Safety Reed Doughty probably has a couple of plays he’ll want to review a few times.

There were times during the Washington Redskins’ game against the New York Giants Sunday where you got the feeling: ‘I’ve seen this movie before.’ But the outcome was different because of a new mindset, players say.

The Washington Redskins will be thin at the safety position on Sunday, with LaRon Landry still sidelined with a strained hamstring and Kareem Moore on the Physically Unable to Perform list. But rookie DeJon Gomes could see time at either safety position.

The Redskins on Sunday welcome to town a New York Giants team that’s coming off of a preseason that has seen five key defensive players suffer season-ending losses. Several others will be out for significant portions of the season.

The Redskins emphasized upgrading their defense this offseason and used six of their 12 draft picks – including three of their first five selections – to take defensive players, all of whom made the 53-man roster.

Mike Shanahan awarded the Washington Redskins’ starting quarterback job to Rex Grossman after he narrowly outperformed John Beck during the preseason. Here’s what the coach and some of his players had to say.

Washington Redskins strong safety LaRon Landry remains hopeful that he can play in Sunday’s season opener against the New York Giants, but said that his strained right hamstring still isn’t completely back to full strength.